New Year, new role for Gordon

FRESH CHALLENGE...Gordon Lawton joined Athletic more than 30 years ago to help develop the club's lottery

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ATHLETIC'S new football secretary Gordon Lawton has been busy settling into his new role, more than 30 years after first arriving at Oldham Athletic.

Gordon (62) took over as the man in charge of behind-the-scenes operations at the start of 2017.

And even though he is set for retirement in the next two or three years, the former rock band roadie from Castleton is full of enthusiasm for his latest challenge, after he moved on from his previous role - officially listed as publishing, media manager and historian.

"The first day, it started!," he said, of a new position. "Every fan has their own individual queries and it is unbelievable, the number of different questions you get asked.

"You are dealing with other secretaries and chief executives, the FA and Football League, red and yellow cards, substitutes . . . Everything to do with a football match, right down to making sure there is a ball there to kick."

Tanya Blakey stepped down as secretary in a backroom re-shuffle which opened up the chance for Gordon to take on the job.

It is the latest chapter in a career which started with work at an engineering firm in Rochdale, followed by a stint in the music business and then two-and-a-half years in rugby league with Leigh.

He joined Athletic to work under Alan Hardy, then the commercial manager, 32 years ago, initially to help build up the club's new lottery.

The glory days under Joe Royle soon followed and though times are more difficult right now, Gordon felt the time was right to move up within the close-knit world of Athletic's office staff.

'INVOLVED'

"It all came out of the blue," he added. "There were a few changes going on at the time and I have been involved in virtually every other aspect of the club, so I thought a change was a good idea.

"The club wanted someone who has been involved in football for as long as I have, instead of someone coming in from outside who doesn't know Oldham Athletic and who doesn't know the game.

"Oldham fans are a special breed, aren't they? Perhaps one of their own might be welcomed more as well."

For the time being at least, Gordon sees himself continuing to commentate at games on the club's own channel.

And what he wishes for more than anything is that everyone associated with the cash-poor club can now pull together.

"First and foremost, what I want is for to get the club settled," he said.

"The troubles on and off the field are well documented and with no blame apportioned to anyone for any of it, now's the time to settle down, close ranks perhaps, move forward and on to better times."